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| a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves |
Brokeback Mountains (2005) - Review
A beautiful and heartbreaking film, it follows the emotional and sexual relationship that develops between two cowboys, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), in American West from 1963 to 1983. Thankfully, same-sex relationships are better accepted in today's society, but it wasn't always like that. And Ang Lee's film really does a terrific job at portraying all the shades of the forbidden love it tells about.
Loving (2016) - Review
As beautiful and heartbreaking as my previous pick, it tells the story of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), an interracial couple from Virginia who make their way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend their right to be married. It is a powerful film that showcases how love doesn't have a colour, and it's heartbreaking to think that people still oppose interracial relationships nowadays.
Maurice (1987)
A more restrained but still beautiful film, this James Ivory film follows Maurice (James Wilby), a young man in Edwardian society who struggles to come to terms and accept his sexuality when his lover, Clive (Hugh Grant), rejects him and marries a woman. While my emotional response wasn't as devastating as it was with my previous picks, it truly hurt seeing Clive treating Maurice like that. And it hurt even more seeing anther young man being incarcerated and losing all of his prestige simply because of his attraction to men.
We match on Brokeback Mountain! I haven't seen your third pick but I adored Loving. Such a great film.
ReplyDeleteMaurice is a little slow paced, but it's worth watching. I didn't think I was going to like it because I wasn't a fan of A Room With a View but it turned out to be quite engaging.
DeleteIt's still so baffling to think the Loving case was 1967.... not TOO long ago, to be honest. Nice picks here.
ReplyDeleteWhat's even more disturbing is that some idiots still oppose to interracial relationships nowadays.
DeleteHey we have one film in common! I haven't seen Maurice yet but I really should as I like period dramas.
ReplyDeleteThen you're going to love this one!
DeleteI think this is the first time in a while that I've seen all three of your picks! Very fine films all.
ReplyDeleteBrokeback is such a heartbreaker with three performances that just knock you out with their depth (Ann Hathaway is good in her role but its so small she doesn't have the chance to make the same impact except her one phone call). That last scene is so powerful. If you haven't you should read the short story that served as its basis. Very brief but also very impactful.
I wish I could say the issue at the heart of Loving was no longer present but sadly that's not so. Again beautifully acted.
How did I not think of Maurice! Such a perfect fit. LOVE Rupert Graves as Scudder, Clive however is an unmitigated ass.
My first also looks at a relationship that was illegal at the time and though that's not the thrust of the film it definitely plays into the story.
Broken Blossoms (1919)-Chinese immigrant Cheng Huan’s (Richard Barthelmess) dream of spreading Buddhism to London has dissipated and he has sunken into aimless opium addiction until he finds young English waif Lucy Burrows (Lillian Gish) battered on his doorstep. Renewed by their emotional connection he cares for her as she recovers, but their forbidden love across ethnic boundaries is riven when they are discovered by Lucy’s abusive father (Donald Crisp).
Death Takes a Holiday (1934)-Unable to comprehend why people cling so tenaciously to life Death (Fredric March) assumes human form as Prince Sirki at Duke Lambert’s Italian villa. Mixing with his guests in an attempt to gain insight he meets the beautiful Grazia (Evelyn Venable). Instantly attracted to each other Sirki and she wrestle with the impossibility and the forbidden nature of their love.
Dirty Dancing (1987)-Teenager Baby (Jennifer Grey) is vacationing with her family at a Catskills resort in the 60’s when she meets dance instructor Johnny (Patrick Swayze). Through a series of events they become involved but the lovers face several obstacles including the dual facts that Johnny is forbidden to fraternize with the guests and Baby is likewise forbidden from seeing the older Johnny by her father (Jerry Orbach).
Broken Blossoms sounds like an interesting film but I'm not sure I would be able to look past Barthelmess playing a Chinese man. I have seen Dirty Dancing and didn't love it at the time.
DeleteI see your point about Barthelmess. My take on it is that if it were produced today I'd be furious and outraged but such were the times when it was made and we can't go back and change them. So I take the portrait with a grain of salt, he takes the part seriously and gives it as much dignity as possible.
DeleteWell, I guess it deserves a chance then.
Delete3 great choices as I totally recommend these films to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you love them.
DeleteGreat choices, Sonia. These are all important stories and echo real life experiences of thousands - potentially millions - of people. The fact that same-sex marriage is still illegal in some countries baffles and angers me.
ReplyDeleteI live in Italy and so many people, too many people, are still against same-sex relationships :(
DeleteBrokeback Mountain is so sad.. I can't watch it. Loving is on my list but I haven't watched it yet. Haven't heard of the last one.
ReplyDeleteI totally get it. I had a very hard time watching it myself.
DeleteI watched Brokeback Mountain at the cinema and haven't seen it since, it broke my heart. Loving is such a perfect choice for this week too!
ReplyDeleteI want to rewatch Brokeback Mountain but it is so devastating I probably never will.
DeleteI've heard so much about Maurice, yet somehow I've never seen it. Hopefully, I can remedy that some time soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, please. It really deserves to be watched.
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